CRYSTAL PALACE PARK INTERIM CONSULTATION REPORT

CRYSTAL PALACE PARKINTERIM CONSULTATION REPORTFEB - JUNE 2016

Crystal Palace Park

First Stage

Fluid has coordinated a first series of consultation events and meetings taking place in and around Crystal Palace Park (CPP) between March and May 2016.

These events have aimed to engage the local community in a discussion about the future of CPP and a sustainable Regeneration Plan for the park.

The first series of consultation provided an insight into local understanding of where previous plans and development schemes for CPP now stand. The events provided a good platform to update local people on previous plans and dispell misinformation.

Mobile pop-up consultation stands welcomed input from pedestrians in 17 different locations, gathering thoughts and views from a large spread of areas surrounding CPP. These culminated in two full-day drop-in exhibitions adjacent to CPP train station providing visitors with information about the process and outline vision for the sustainable Regeneration Plan.

Over 750 individuals and representatives of local groups contributed to questions regarding their usage of the park, how they would like to see the park develop, and their aspirations for its future as a community asset.

Feedback

General feelings about the park were of affection and pride for it’s historical features; anticipation for improved maintenance and use of space; and concern that opportunities for more events and community activities are currently being missed.

The feedback obtained is presented in this report - to be used to inform proposals for the sustainable Regeneration Plan and provide a platform from which to design the next consultation stages.

INTRODUCTION

Crystal Palace Park

Stage One Aims

The approach to the initial consultation has been to reach an even distribution of local residents, stakeholders and park users from all surrounding areas of the park. Information gathered has been used to gauge key areas of interest and concern in order to inform the sustainable Regeneration Plan.

There has also been a focus on beginning to facilitate direct and constructive dialogue between local residents and stakeholder groups, raising awareness of opportunities for local people to be involved in the park through existing initiatives such as Friends of Crystal Palace Park (FoCPP), the upcoming Shadow Board and community led projects funded by Bromley Council.

Strategy

• Initial area observation;

• Stakeholder mapping and meetings;

• Roaming pop-up consultation events;

• Two-day public exhibition;

• Initial findings to inform options

THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS

03

Section title handgloves

Crystal Palace Park

The event schedule was designed so that a broad spread of areas and people would be reached. Locations were chosen for their high footfall or proximity to public spaces and buildings. Timings ranged between 7:30am and 8:30pm, weekdays, weekends and school holidays, and over the duration weather varied considerably.

Pop-ups

A series of informal pop-up consultation events stopped in 17 locations within and around Crystal Palace Park. A cargo-bike was used as a base and to draw attention.

Respondents arrived at the consultation station independently, or were approached at random by consultation staff.

Short canvas cards combining open and multiple-choice questions were the primary mode of feeding back, with maps for children to draw on, and a display of completed cards with instant photos to encourage discussion.

Exhibition

A static two-day exhibition took place in the park entrance adjacent to Crystal Palace train station. A marquee housed exhibition boards which explained the forthcoming Regeneration Plan, displayed interim feedback results, and provided information about LBB’s community project fund, the Shadow Board and FoCPP stakeholder group.

Invitations were sent by Email and letterbox to over 32,000 households, a comprehensive list of stakeholders, community organisations and pop-up respondents.

Visitors could complete a canvas card, a quick query from or add to two interactive boards - ‘Community Ideas for the park’ and ‘What would you Add, Change or Maintain in the park?’.

Results

In total Fluid have spoken to over 755 local residents, park users and community group representatives, with 745 completed feedback materials, and 494 leaving their details to stay involved.

In general the events were very well received and visitors readily left their feedback and engaged in positive conversation with the consultation staff.

METHODOLOGY

Pop-ups - 295 respondents

Exhibition Day 1 - 178 respondents

Exhibition Day 2 - 266 respondents

Roaming pop-up consultation location

Consultation exhibition location

Age groups met at pop-up events

Age groups met at 1st exhibition

Under 167

16 to 2418

25 to 3448

35 to 4467

45 to 5444

55 to 6434

65 to 7432

74 +4

Under 16

16 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 to 74

74 +

4

5

95

138

78

57

36

15

Crystal Palace Park

Activities and facilities for the whole community

Unchanged, but well maintained, preserved and managed

Improved and accessible basic park facilities

Frequent and varied cultural events and facilities

Enhanced access points, routes and wayfinding

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

* Number of topic mentions in written feedback

Combined responses

Findings from all written feedback (given in response to canvas card questions at the pop-up events and exhibitions) were combined with

HIGH LEVEL FINDINGS

responses left on the interactive ‘Add, Change, Maintain’ installation at the exhibition. Early priorities for the park are shown below:

Crystal Palace Park

Types of response

Detailed findings have been drawn from responses to specific questions that were presented via initial consultation canvas cards.

Two types of response have been drawn from the questionnaires:

• tick box response to specific questions

• comments relating to specific questions or additional commentary to unrelated subject

Topic areas

Four topic areas were chosen for discussion with local people,

• their current usage of the park

• their broad aspirations for the park

• specific areas for improvement

• community projects/interests they would like to see in the park

DETAILED FINDINGS

Canvas Card

Crystal Palace Park

Q2: How could the park improve as an asset for you, your family and your community?

A PARK FOR EVERYONE

A PARK FOR AN ACTIVE &

HEALTHY LIFE

A PARK FOR CULTURE & EVENTS

134

120

118

29

Safer and easier waymaking

Better social and community spaces (café etc)

Improved basic park facilities (benches, toilets etc)

Better surfaces

74

68

29

Better facilities for children and young people

New outdoors activities

Better Sports + fitness facilities

104

77

13

13

Improved performance space

New live cultural events

More Fetes and festivals

More art in the park

UNCHANGED BUT WELL-MAINTAINED

69

59

General maintenance of what’s there

Keep it as it is

413207

171128

A PARK FOR NATURE

MISCELLANEOUS

52

32

26

Enjoyment of nature and natural features

Horticulture, growing and eductation

Wildlife

CELEBRATING HERITAGE

59

21

14

Heritage feature restoration

Build a new palace

Better heritage education

94110

52

Q3: Below is a list of suggestions for improvements to the park. What are your top priorities?

Historic features

Park landscape

Recreational facilities and activities

Visitor facilities

Park infrastructure

Other (please state)

PRESERVING HISTORIC FEATURES408

CREATING A VARIETY OF GARDENS AND IMPROVING HORTICULTURE

398

PROVIDING A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY

360

CREATING A SERIES OF SPACES TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE EVENTS IN THE PARK

339

ENHANCING NATURE CONSERVATION AND UNDERTAKING HABITAT CREATION

330

EMPHASISING AND INTERPRETING THE HERITAGE IN THE PARK

294

CREATING A RANGE OF REFRESHMENT OUTLETS AROUND THE PARK

265

IMPROVING VIEWS AND REMOVING VISUAL INTRUSIONS239

PROVIDING VISITOR INFORMATION AND INTERPRETATION THROUGHOUT THE PARK

182

MAXIMISING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES148

ENHANCING AND MANAGING VEHICLE PARKING144

IMPROVED BASIC FACILITIES19

OPPOSED TO BUILDING13

MISCELLANEOUS6

IMPROVING ACCESS AND LINKS THROUGHOUT THE PARK209

Q3: Many people wrote comments in addition to their selection under this question.

Historic features

Park landscape

Recreational facilities and activities

Visitor facilities

Park infrastructure

Other (please state)

23 15 11

Reduction/ removal of cars and improved cycle and

pedestrian access

Use the existing bowl and stadium

Outdoor arts and cultural events (emphasis on

accessibility)

7 7 6

A new ‘range’ of refreshment outlets is not

needed or desired

Removal of redundant structures & barriers

Improved toilets

5 5 5

Addition of free-to-use outdoors activities

Better childrens play facilities Preserving the dinosaurs

4 45

Against housing Information located around the park

Improved museum

COMMENTS

Crystal Palace Park

Opportunities

In addition to questions relating to improvements and aspirations for the park, participants were also informed about community led initiatives.

This included:

• Establishing a new governance model for the park ‘The Shadow Board’

• Community funding initiatives for potential projects in the park

• Recruitment to, and generating new ideas for, the Friends of Crystal Palace Park group (FoCPP).

Participants were asked whether they would like to be involved in future community projects within the park and also whether they would interested in joining the FoCPP.

New ideas

A question within the canvas card and an interactive board asked people to put forward ideas for community projects or initiatives they would like to see in the park.

The following page sets out the categories of ideas put forward.

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

Q4 and 5: Do you have an idea interest or skill you would like to share in CPP?

As part of an exercice portraying ideas, skills and interests that could be put forward to the Crystal Palace Park community, we asked respondant to tell us how they would like to be involved.

Respondents provided ideas for projects,

initiatives or general activities that they would most like to be involved with in Crystal Palace Park.

Ideas and interests included: interactive experiences for the community, wildlife events, outdoor theatre, music.

Ideas and interests included: volunteering projects for scouts, engagement work, no skills but keen to help with anything!

ARTS + EVENTS - 33 GENERAL VOLUNTEERING - 27

Ideas and interests included: Micro architecture, landscape design, woodworking skills, user experience design.

Ideas and interests included: Yoga teaching and outdoor medication, kids cycling, female football group, rambling and general walks.

ENGINEERING, DESIGNING & MAKING - 27 HEALTH, SPORT, WELLBEING -15

Ideas and interests included: gardening work, wildlife conservation, ecology survey

Ideas and interests included: better local publicity for events, communications, websites

GROWING AND NATURE - 17 MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS - 14

Ideas and interests included: improve the cafe, project management.

ENTERPRISE AND BUSINESS - 4

Ideas and interests included: social, community space for mothers and babies, design and connecting with schools

Ideas and interests included: walk with the dinosaurs, link with Chatsworth house in Derbyshire where Paxton was a gardener.

CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLES GROUPS & GENERAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - 9

EDUCATION/ HISTORY - 9

Crystal Palace Park

Crystal Palace Park

Following design workshops to review options for the sustainable Regeneration Plan, further analysis has been drawn from commentary received during the first round of consultation.

These include:

• Potential uses for the Top Site

• Proposals for events to be used as a revenue source for the park

• Ideas for certain types of dedicated community facilities

Commentary from the above subject areas will also be used to inform questions and areas for discussion at the 2nd Exhibition.

RESULTS RELATING TO PROPOSAL OPTIONS

Top Site

During the workshops a number of ideas were discussed relating to the Top Site. Ideas were:

• Opportunity for event and activity space.• A clearly defined formal terrace to

maximise views and strengthen the prominence of the Palace in the park.

• An area for horticulture and relaxation.• An interactive edge that provides

facilities to both the events area and wider park.

• A viewing platform.• Renovated subway.

45

26

14

8

7

7

4

7

Good maintenance and renovation and removal of ‘ugly’ parts

Enhancing palace legacy by historical interpretation, rebuilding a replica palace, or emphasising site features

Added basic park facilities and ease of access

Prioritise gardens and nature

Add a cafe and public recreation

Use it for live events, exhibitions or markets

Reopen and use the subway

Miscellaneous

COMMENTS ON THE TOP SITE

Crystal Palace Park

Events

Proposals for different types of events (to provide revenue for the park) were also discussed during the workshops. Ideas were: • An ever changing event, exhibition and

activity space to re-establish the role of the Palace.

• Large scale events similar to ‘Battersea Evolution’

• Arts fair• Music events

131

103

55

9

8

6

3

Restore and use the concert stage / concert bowl or arena

Live arts and cultural events and festivals

Cultural events run by and for the local community

New arts space

Wider promotion of existing events

Local artisan markets and regular community days

No large events

COMMENTS ON EVENTS

Dedicated community provisions

Ideas were discussed for community provision in the park:

• smaller scale commercial outlets, pop-up spaces

• community event spaces located towards the bottom end of the park

• smaller scale community events to compliment large scale commercial activities

Cultural events run by or for the community

COMMENTS ON DEDICATED COMMUNITY PROVISIONS

61

New accessible community spaces15

Community gardens6

More focused community development programmes

6

Crystal Palace Park

NEXT STEPS

Further Engagement July - September 2016

During the early engagement, a number of different ideas for on-going involvement have been suggested. These ideas have come from various sources and represent a snap shot of the wealth of creative thinking embedded in the local community and the desire to be involved in the regeneration of the park.

We have set out proposals for continued engagement over the next six weeks and ahead of the anticipated second exhibition in September. Our intention is to build on and develop ideas that we have received from the local community. We would suggest progressing the relationship that we have with the Friends of Crystal Palace Park, strengthening their involvement in the sustainable Regeneration Plan.

Working with the FoCPP will also allow the engagement to adapt to the need for further outreach (in place of a second exhibition) while remaining within budget constraints.

In working with the FoCPP we would hope to combine with existing events planned for the summer. However it may also be necessary to supplement their activities additional events which the project team can lead on. This could be carried out through a series of walk and talk events around the park that further ideas captured at the first exhibition regarding community initiatives and outlining aspects of the vision for the sustainable Regeneration Plan. This could be concluded with a workshop.

In addition to the outreach events it would be useful to conduct a second round of light touch pop-up events that raise awareness of the sustainable Regeneration Plan opportunities to initiate community projects. This will also ensure that we continue to engage with a wide audience of park users.

Communications

We would suggest using the website and e-mail database to progress/maintain communications with people engaged at the first exhibition. Reflecting communications with those of the FoCPP will in turn strengthen this.

Challenges

We will need to provide a connection (explanation) or framework relating to the wider sustainable Regeneration Plan. It is important that there is a logical placing of the community projects within the larger timeframe for improvements.

In relation to the first exhibition the project team will need to provide updates to the outline process communicated at the first event. Local people will be keen to see how concepts and ideas for the project have developed.

NEXT STEPS

Crystal Palace Park

CRYSTAL PALACE PARK INTERIM CONSULTATION REPORT

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